We prepare for Christmas with an immersion into the historical Mary story as told by James D. Tabor in his book The Lost Mary: Rediscovering the Mother of Jesus. According to publicity for the book, “This is a new historical investigation of the most powerful woman in the world.” Published in New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 2025. The book contains photographs and is 166 pages long, plus sections for the author’s notes and an index.
$39 CAD hardcover; $16.99 on Kindle
Tabor researched for 20 years Mary, the Jewish woman who bore Jesus, her historical background and culture. We will share our impressions and stories as we learn Tabor’s in-depth historical context of Jesus' family. A pleasant, engaging read, 2 chapters per week (about 60 pages). 5 sessions through the season of Advent.
REGISTRATION (to get on the mailing list for weekly questions) LICCF.ca “Book Study” Tab
WHEN?
Sundays IN PERSON November 23 to December 21 14:00h-15:30h (2:00-3:30 PM) at Hanlons’ If you need a ride, please let us know. 403-359-0812 [email protected] PLEASE NOTE one exception November 30 will be on line as Teresa will be in Edmonton.
Mondays ONLINE November 24 to December 22 17:30h (5:30) Pacific; 18:30h (6:30) Mountain; 19:30h (7:30) Central; 20:30 (8:30 pm) Eastern Sessions will run from 1 hour to 1 ½ hours depending on participant numbers. LINK https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89363331019
From the Amazon write-up: “Tabor restores her voice, her faith, her motherhood, and, most of all, her humanity, in this ground-breaking portrait that challenges everything we thought we knew about the origins of Christianity.” —Reza Aslan, author of Zealot
Mary, mother of Jesus, is the best known—and least known—woman in history. Revered and worshipped by millions, she remains a figment of the imagination, the ethereal subject of Raphaels and Botticellis, bathed in heavenly light, too virginal and pure to move among us.
But what about the real Mary? The young Jewish woman and single mother of eight—five boys and three girls. The defiant citizen of Roman-occupied Galilee who survived through one of the most dangerous periods of Jewish history—an ancient “game of thrones” that claimed the lives of three of her sons: Jesus and Simon by crucifixion, James by stoning. The historical Mary whose teachings and courageous example may in fact make her the “first founder” of what we now call Christianity.
This Mary has not only been lost to us—she has been systematically erased over the past two millennia by a theological, cultural, and political program intent on removing her from the human realm and marginalizing her womanhood, motherhood, and Jewishness.
Nov 23/24 2025 Session 1 Chapters 1 and 2
Nov 30/ Dec 1 Session 2 Chapters 3 and 4
Dec 7/8 Session 3 Chapters 5 and 6
Dec 14/15 Session 4 Chapters 7 and 8
Dec 21/22 Session 5 Chapters 9 and 10
1)What struck you, stays with you from the readings?
2)How has your perception/understanding of Mary formed or changed this week?
3) Question based on chapters read, sent out each week.
4) What do you take away from what you have heard and experienced today?